Witness said fatal attack happened suddenly during sex- and drug-fueled party

Thursday

Feb 14, 2013 at 11:00 AMFeb 14, 2013 at 6:09 PM

By Linda Bock TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

A witness to the fatal stabbing of 25-year-old Willie Jackson III said he was trying to “get busy” with a woman in a basement apartment in Main South on Dec. 22, 2009, when a man he had invited inside took his clothes off and then turned violent in a flash. He said crack cocaine and alcohol were present.

“It seemed like it was so fast that it happened,” said Tyrone Harris, 47, the first witness called to testify today in the murder trial of Felix Rodriquez.

Mr. Rodriquez, 54, of Worcester, has been indicted on murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges in the death of Mr. Jackson, also known as Leslie Jones. Mr. Harris also referred to Mr. Jackson as “J” and “Shay” during his testimony.

Jurors heard opening statements this morning from Assistant District Attorney Brett F. Dillon and defense lawyer John J. Roemer before boarding a bus to visit the scene of the crime. Mr. Dillon told the jury that Mr. Rodriquez stabbed Mr. Jackson through the heart, pulled the knife out of his body, and put the knife in his jacket pocket before he fled on a bicycle.

Mr. Dillon said the stabbing followed a confrontation in the apartment at 25 Charlton St. Mr. Dillon told the jury that the killing was premeditated and that Mr. Rodriquez left the apartment at one point and went to a nearby liquor store to buy more wine before returning. He said a video camera at the liquor store captured Mr. Rodriquez's actions, demeanor and decisions, according to Mr. Dillon.

“A fight breaks out again,” Mr. Dillon said of the scene when the defendant went back to the apartment.

Mr. Harris said this morning that he did not recall Mr. Rodriguez leaving and coming back, although he acknowledged that he has a lengthy mental health and criminal history.

The small get-together that night began with him and Mr. Jackson smoking coke. The two decided to go get a woman with whom to share drugs and sex. Mr. Harris was on the bed with the woman and was wearing only his boxer shorts when Mr. Rodriguez arrived at the apartment. Mr. Harris told jurors that he had met Mr. Rodriguez at a mental health unit shortly before that night.

Things turned ugly, he said, when Mr. Rodriguez took off his clothes and indicated he wanted to have sex.

Mr. Harris said the defendant held a knife to his own neck.

“Yo,” he said. “Get back.”

Mr. Harris said Mr. Jackson snatched the knife from Mr. Rodriguez's hand, flung it across the room and told him to leave. Somehow, Mr. Harris said, Mr. Rodriguez got the knife back and stabbed Mr. Jackson.

“I don't know how he had the knife in his hand,” Mr. Harris said. “It happened that fast.”

Mr. Harris said he tried to walk Mr. Jackson upstairs, but he collapsed. He eventually got the injured man to the front lawn before he passed out, he said. “I thought he was still living because he was snoring.”

The defense lawyer, Mr. Roemer, was expected to question Mr. Harris this afternoon after the jurors had their lunch break. In his opening statement, Mr. Roemer said that Mr. Rodriquez has had criminal and mental health commitments in the past.

Mr. Roemer described the scene at the apartment as a “party,” with the host, Mr. Jackson, serving crack cocaine and alcohol. The woman apparently was trading sex for drugs. His opening statement differed from the prosecution's in that he said all three men were rolling around and fighting.

“Was this stabbing done out of intent” Mr. Roemer asked the jury, or perhaps in self-defense?

Mr. Rodriquez had attempted suicide two weeks before the fatal stabbing, according to Mr. Roemer, and was involuntarily committed to the psychiatric ward at a city hospital. He said that is where Mr. Rodriquez met Mr. Harris. Judge Richard T. Tucker is presiding.